The Color of Compromise
Jemar Tisby Zondervan, 256 pages Reviewed by Robert Melone Jr. It is humbling to be a Christian pastor these days, for in..
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Aladdin: For such a time as this
Guest commentary by Liz Rasley The new live-action movie “Aladdin” isn’t a new story at all. It’s an old story (even older..
Full Darkness: Original Sin, Moral Injury, and Wartime Violence
Brian S. Powers Eerdmans, 200 pages Reviewed by Martha Moore-Keish This “present project is my argument against the comfortable and simplistic understandings..
Friendship between Virginia and Palestine churches leads to support for the wider community
Guest commentary by Heidi Shott The deep, enduring friendship between the people of Grace Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Virginia, and St. Philip’s..
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
Austin Channing Brown Convergent Books, 192 pages Reviewed by MaryAnn McKibben Dana I’m so thankful to former PC(USA) co-moderators Denise Anderson and..
What are you reading?
My spouse owns a T-shirt that sparks jealousy. Procured from the New York Public Library, it asks in bold, block letters: “What..
Ibram X. Kendi
“We need to read books that are difficult or unorthodox, that don’t go down easily. Books that force us to confront our..
City of Peace
Henry G. Brinton Koehler Books, 242 pages Reviewed by Michael F. Frosolono Henry Brinton, a Presbyterian pastor, crafted this novel that captures..
Presbyterian Outlook bicentennial celebration
Congratulatory ads If you are unable to attend the celebration, you can still be a part of this historic occasion. Please consider..
Summer reading
I have six suggestions for summer reading. First, it should include what The New York Times calls “beach reading.” That is, in..
1919: Race Riots, Interracial Commissions and John J. Eagan (20 years ago)
20 years ago — July 19-26, 1999 Approximately “200,000 African-Americans sailed back from World War I - after fighting to make the..
Consider the Women: A Provocative Guide to Three Matriarchs of the Bible
Debbie Blue Eerdmans, 224 pages Reviewed by Deborah McKinley Speaking about Mary, the mother of Jesus, author Debbie Blue reveals the point..
What’s right about Community Presbyterian Church?
Community Presbyterian Church — St. Maries, Idaho Our after-school celebrations began with a pizza party! In Dec. 2017, we scheduled the Christmas..
Life after death? Reflections on the Princeton Karl Barth Conference
Guest commentary by Raymond Anderson In mid-June (June 15-19, 2019) church leaders and scholars from several countries met at Princeton Theological Seminary..
Convocation for Communities of Color planned for Big Tent
(PNS) A Big Tent celebration filled with worship, music, conversation, and prayer is in store for those attending the Convocation for Communities..
You’re More Powerful than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen
Eric Liu PublicAffairs Books, 256 pages Reviewed by Allen Timm Community organizer and activist Eric Liu believes that individuals have the power..
The space in between
In response to the divisiveness surrounding the 2016 elections, poet and author David Whyte posted on his blog that it was time..
Holy needs
Two ice cream trucks came to our community when I was a child. The first sold Eskimo Pies, Bomb Pops and Orange..
Maddie Crum
“The name of the genre alone – self-help – suggests that in the face of hardship, be it personal or societal, the..
The right way to doubt (10 years ago)
10 Years ago — May 25, 2009 “Toxic forms of religion are killing us — sometimes literally, sometimes spiritually. It’s time to..
Called to transition
Guest commentary by Laura Viau “So… how many churches have you served?” I can understand why I get this question. If I’d..
A Sojourner’s Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson IVP Books, 208 pages Reviewed by Rachel Cheney As a former Marine Corps officer, seminary graduate and founder of..
What’s right about Green Acres Presbyterian Church?
Green Acres Presbyterian Church – Portsmouth, Virginia Danish and Devotions is our nursing home visitation project. Having five residents at a nearby retirement..
Health and growth: An assessment tool for churches in transition
Guest commentary by Nicole Farley In 2017 the Presbytery of Milwaukee received a grant, which made possible new ways of attending to..
Transitional ministry and cultural proficiency
Guest commentary by Jihyun Oh Transitional ministry can happen at any time. It can happen in a 10-year pastoral call when key..